#medtechtrivia The man with the golden arm

Meet James Harrison, also known as “the man with the golden arm” due to the unusual composition of his blood, has saved over two million babies through blood donations.

After his few first donations in 1954, it was discovered that his blood contained an unusually strong and persistent antibody called Rho(D) Immune Globulin. His blood plasma that contains Rho(D) IG is given to Rh(D) negative mothers of unknown or Rh(D) positive babies during and after pregnancy to prevent the creation of antibodies to the blood of a Rh(D) positive child to prevent antigen sensitization and subsequent incompatibility phenomenon known as the Rhesus disease, the most common form of hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN).

His blood also led to the development of commercial Anti-D immune globulin commonly known as RhoGAM. It was estimated that his blood donations have helped save over 2.4 million babies and pregnant women, including his own daughter Tracey, being treated with his antibodies.


 
References:
- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1259627/Man-golden-arm-James-Harrison-saves-2million-babies-half-century-donating-rare-blood.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Harrison_%28blood_donor%29
- http://www.medicaldaily.com/man-golden-arm-rare-blood-type-allows-james-harrison-donate-blood-2-million-babies-338416

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